Tracey Nuzzi's dad was purse seining for the regional salmon hatcheries in Cordova in 2008 when he suggested she visit for the shorebird festival. Upon Nuzzi's arrival, her dad threw a welder in her hands to help build a boat. She never saw the birds.

Young Fishermen's Summit offers expert advice

Nuzzi decided to stay in Cordova, where she got a job on a local fishing boat. Two years ago, she and her brother bought their own boat and a gillnet fishing permit.

“I fell in love with working and living on boats,” she said. “But there are responsibilities, too.”

Nuzzi signed up for the Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit in 2012 to better understand what the commercial fishing life entails. Organized by the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, the summit brings together young commercial fishermen to learn about fishing business and fisheries management from experts.